FORT COLLINS – For the second straight year, a thin – in numbers and weight – Colorado State defensive line figures to cause coaches restless nights and test their ability to be creative in putting together packages that can make it effective.

Gone is graduate Nuku Latu from the interior, end C.J. James to transfer, and end Nordly Capi to dismissal from the university. James and Capi were the team’s top defensive ends a year ago – Capi led the team with 10 sacks. So, yes, this is a sizeable job for co-defensive coordinators Marty English and Al Simmons put the pieces of this puzzle together in a way that works.

Starters: In CSU’s new 3-4 alignment, which features a lot of stunting and twisting up front, sophomore John Froland and senior Zach Tiedgen are likely to get the first crack at starting. Froland was an interior lineman last season in the Rams’ 4-3 scheme and is the best of the down linemen. In 11 starts last season he recorded 34 tackles, a forced fumble and a half-sack. In the middle, expect to see junior Curtis Wilson, a player that notched a couple of sacks among his 12 tackles last season.

Depth: On the end we find Te’Jay Brown, who moves outside from an interior spot last season; and redshirt freshman Joe Kawulok. Coach Jim McElwain added two defensive ends after camp started – Eli Edwards and Lanston Tanyi. The 6-1, 250-pound Tanyi comes to the Rams from Appalachian State, where he graduated from in May. He’s got one year of eligibility. Edwards is 6-1, 244-pound end who comes in from Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. He played two seasons at the juco and has two years of eligibility.

At the interior spot, freshman Shaq Walker (6-2, 320 pounds) and converted offensive lineman Alex Tucci (6-3, 300) provide the primary depth behind Wilson. McElwain hopes to get 320-pound defensive line transfer Calvin Tonga into the fray as soon as possible, but paperwork snags have prevented that from happening. Still, he’s the type of player that can push for a starting spot.

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.